Waking Up to Success

​I have dabbled with meditation for years, but I never had enough time to make it regular. Until recently, that is. This summer, I started my own daily mindfulness meditation practice, and I wanted to share three videos that provided some of my inspiration!​Once firmly in the realm of Buddhist traditions and, later, Clinical Psychology, the practice of Mindfulness is now becoming more and more commonplace. You’ve probably heard about it, maybe even tried it out yourself. But in the busy, day-to-day reality of modern life, there’s always a good excuse to do something else. Is it really possible to find the time to practice mindfulness meaningfully?

Not only is it possible, it’s needed more than ever.

Research shows that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy has a significant positive impact on depression, stress, anxiety, and can improve physical functioning and overall quality of life. Mindfulness therapy’s ability to reduce stress, a risk factor for mental and physical illness, has led it to become a form of adjunct treatment for people who are chronically ill, and a preventative measure in work places, pregnancy, and even in prisons. (Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4400080/)

​Look familiar? Often find yourself stressed at work or at home? Try to spend time practicing mindfulness techniques to help you focus and re-channel energy when the going gets tough.

So – how can you become more “mindful”, more often? These three illuminating TED Talk’s have great, unique perspectives for how to become more mindful and how this can help us break bad habits, become less distracted, and be more happy. I know you’ll love them too!

​Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between addiction and mindfulness. In his TED Talk, Brewer discusses real cases where patients who focused clearly on their addictive actions became more acutely aware of their negative impacts. The “spell” of their addiction was broken! If you struggle to make healthy choices in your life, whether it’s quitting smoking, or eating too many potato chips, check out this video and learn how it is possible to change your habits with focus and mindfulness.

​When did you last take time to do absolutely nothing at all? When we don’t let our mind focus on the present moment we risk increased stress, miss out on things that are important to us, and, according to research, risk being unhappy for nearly half of our waking time. Andy Puddicombe’s engaging TED Talk offers a gateway to meditation and mindfulness that is accessible for everyone (plus, he juggles to illustrate his point – and how can you not love that?).

​Brother David Steindl-Rast talks about the importance of slowing down and appreciating the countless opportunities (small and big) that life provides for gratitude. Steindl-Rast reminds us that people who seem to have everything aren’t always happy, and that it is the people who are grateful for what they do have that experience the happiness that comes from their appreciation. Even when life presents challenges, we can remain in tune with the moments of joy that move us through life.

​Lots of people are looking for ways to save money, but often, the things we like to do COST money.

Most hobbies aren’t free. Whether you have to pay for lessons, equipment, time, or anything else, it seems difficult to have a night of fun without paying for something.

I realized that through my university years, I was able to save a lot more money than my friends. While I didn’t really do it intentionally, I now realize I stumbled across a great technique for saving money: Find a way to get paid for your hobbies.

For me, I sang in a barbershop quartet, played in a brass quintet, worked on a high ropes course, and ran student programs in residence. I was lucky enough to get paid for all of them!

A friend of mine stumbled on the same technique: He plays the trumpet in a military band, teaches yoga, teaches spin classes, and he tutors people.

This technique may not be for everyone. Turning hobbies into jobs comes with some downsides – there’s some increased pressure to deliver and added commitment, for example. But if saving money is a top priority for you right now, then why not try to earn some cash while you have your fun.

Let’s look at some examples:

Music:If you love to perform, there may be a way to get paid for your performances. Even if you don’t make much, splitting up a modest honourarium from a senior’s home gig, for example, may cover expenses such as gas, music, or merchandise.

Travel:For me, this relates to music also, since I’ve been lucky to travel the world with some phenomenal choirs and quartets. In almost every case, my travel has been subsidized. With barbershop quartetting, the wonderful folks in the Ontario District help fundraise. With choirs, I was able to go either as a chaperone, percussionist, or artistic staff member. But music isn’t the only way to have travel subsidized. Perhaps you are doing a volunteer trip and can fundraise? Perhaps you are on a sports team and are supported by a league? Perhaps you could volunteer to do some extra administrative work for a group tour in exchange for a discount? Don’t be afraid to ask about the possibilities!

Fitness:My friend teaches spin classes because he knew that he’d be much more likely to show up for his morning workouts if he was getting paid to do it! Teacher training can sometimes be lengthy, and often requires some financial investment, but not always. If you’re really into it, the investment could pay off in the form of a more long-term employment opportunity. Even if you don’t end up teaching, the experience will probably be fun, interesting and help you improve your technique.

If becoming a teacher is too much, look for ways to barter your time. A friend participates in the energy exchange program at the local yoga studio. He gets free yoga in exchange for one night a week of volunteering. While working the desk on Friday nights, he noticed that not only does he enjoy the social time at the studio, but he’s less tempted to go and spend money doing something else during a prime “money spending” time of the week.

Learning:They say the best way to learn something is to teach it. I love teaching, and during university, I had a job both as a teaching assistant and as a private tutor. Both jobs paid well, and I got the bonus of reinforcing the important concepts from my own education. It was like I was being paid to study! Don’t think you’re smart enough to teach?! Not true! I’ll bet you’ve got something you’re really good at, and if you can find people who want to learn what you can do, you’ve got yourself a part-time job!

Art:My brother-in-law is a fantastic photographer. A few years ago, they rented a small studio space, invited everyone they knew to the show, and framed some enlargements of his best shots for display. They didn’t sell everything, but he sold a bunch! Maybe you like to write? Or sketch? Or make pottery? I’ve been trying to convince my mom to sell her quilts for years now… she’s having a hard time letting them go, but as the pile grows, I think she’s getting closer!​Technology:Already spending loads of free-time crafting the perfect tweet or capturing amazing Instagram shots? Feel like you have a lot to say about the current events or culture? Like to program, write or design? There are so many avenues for people to get paid online. My assistant knows a few people who live-stream themselves playing video games and earn enough money through donations to keep themselves going. Other friends build apps and websites for clients in their spare time. Alternatively, if you have lots of “followers” you might be considered an “influencer” and that could be a ticket to some income – or at least some free swag!

Don’t get me wrong, making “big money” online or anywhere else takes hard work. But even “small money” is still “real money”, and it can add up. If you’re going to be doing your hobbies anyway, maybe you can use your time, energy, and talents to help offset the costs and put some cash in the bank!

​Summer is in full swing, which means sunshine, time outdoors, and for many of us, the infamous “swimsuit season”.

The media has no problems telling us about how to diet and hit the gym; Get back your “bikini-body”, or turn that “dad-bod” into something a little less “dad-like”…

It’s so easy to get caught in the diet trap. We can all relate to feeling not-so-awesome about our bodies from time to time, but too many of us feel too much shame about our weight. This means too many of us get trapped in a vicious cycle of fad diets and yo-yo weight fluctuations that doesn’t actually make us happier (or skinnier, as you’ll learn in the video).

Sandra Aamodt is a neuroscientist that has struggled with her own adventures in dieting. Thanks to her research, Sandra knows exactly why her diets didn’t work, and why her new strategy had helped her lose 10 pounds! The best part – you can eat what you want!

Check out Sandra Aamodt’s TED Talk “Why dieting doesn’t usually work” to learn how giving yourself a break from dieting might actually be the best way to lose those stubborn pounds. Why waste time starving and being unhappy when there are healthier ways to take care of your body?

In fact – the research shows that regardless of your weight, you can still be healthy by practicing four habits: Enough fruits and vegetables, regular cardiovascular exercise, moderated alcohol consumption, and no smoking. If you do all four, your chances of death are the same no matter how far you tip the scales! That’s great news!

​Among the other great take-aways for me from this video:

People who diet are actually more likely to gain weight over time.

Teasing kids about their weight always backfires.

The food environment matters a lot – the availability of cheap junk food has had a terrible effect on public health.

Mindful eating - learning to listen to your hunger - might just be the key.

So have a watch and see what you think about Sandra’s diet-free lifestyle!